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Shake It Off

When we eat it on the box (for me this is literally every time we use boxes) or have to dump a bar, it is relatively easy to pick ourselves up and keep going. With adrenaline and sheer determination we finish that workout. Banged up and bruised, our battle scars are for feeling later. But something can change when we get injured. It is difficult to see our times decline, feel weak, and especially hard if we find ourselves unable to participate without modifications to the workout.

I would like to make two points on this – your performance is your prevention, and shake that shit off.

Do not do more than you can do, that is foolish and bound to put you in worse shape. Do not compensate in ways that imbalance you, this also makes you vulnerable to further injury.

Do get in the box as much as you can. You heal faster and stronger when you are pumping it with the hormone goodies you get WODing. Even completely unused muscles benefit from the strengthening of others in your body. Also, do keep taking care of yourself – a mild setback can snowball into a wrecking ball for your lifestyle and self image; letting it change your life can permanently bench you from the sport of fitness. Most injuries can be prevented by moving well, so remember while you are killing yourself during the Open, they should all be good reps (thank Adan for reminding you!). Train your body to keep good positions while under stress.

But how do you shake it off? How to overcome a new fear that comes when we find we are suddenly not as immortal as we thought? You just do it. You face it. Bravery is not a lack of fear, it is the courage to confront it. Fearlessness is not a strength, it is a weakness. The more you know about your mortality, the better prepared you are to develop yourself with wisdom and rationality.

So, let’s not pretend you shouldn’t be scared of hurting yourself – you should. But let it inform instead of paralyze, let it guide you into making the right choice for your body. And obviously, that choice is to get some.